Three Kingdoms: Wolong's brother-in-law, tricking Liu Bei into seizing Jingzhou

The news of the Han army's massive attack on Shu soon spread to all parts of Yizhou.

All the counties were shaken, and the people were terrified.

When the news reached Chengdu, it caused a huge wave of discussion. The whole city was in turmoil and full of discussions.

Qin Palace, Golden Palace.

"Liu Bei has mobilized the entire country's army to attack us this time, with more than 400,000 soldiers."

"There are 50,000 soldiers and horses in Longxi alone."

"Our army only has about 80,000 soldiers at most. How can we deal with the Han army?"

"If we had known this, we should have started recruiting soldiers earlier. By now, we have trained at least 30,000 soldiers and horses, so we won't be so short of manpower."

"Even if there are 30,000 more soldiers, it is still a drop in the bucket compared to the 400,000-strong Han army."

Below the steps, the ministers were discussing various issues, and anxiety was spreading wildly in the hall.

Although the ministers did not dare to speak out their opinions, they implicitly pointed to Cao Cao's inaction.

On the dragon throne.

Cao Cao was looking through the information about the Han army's march southward. His face was as gloomy as iron, and his hand holding the silk book was shaking slightly.

"Big-eared thief, how dare you invade Yizhou so soon?"

Cao Cao gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with hatred and annoyance, mixed with deep confusion.

He was slapped in the face.

Not long ago, he reprimanded his ministers for disturbing him from "recuping his strength" and confidently concluded that Liu Bei would need at least a year of rest before attacking Yizhou.

But now?

Less than three months after Liu Bei won the battle of Longxi and Liangzhou, he once again mobilized the entire country's troops to attack Yizhou.

The speed and the short time interval were far beyond his imagination.

At this time, Cao Cao was shocked and angry, but also secretly ashamed. He didn't know how to face the ministers below him.

"His Majesty!"

A stern voice interrupted the discussion in the hall.

All the ministers fell silent immediately, and all eyes were focused on him.

The person who spoke was Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu sighed, walked to the front of the hall, and bowed to Cao Cao:

"Your Majesty, it is not too late to mend the situation now."

"I think that Your Majesty should quickly issue an edict to select strong men from each county and train a new army that can fight as quickly as possible to strengthen the various passes."

"If Liu Bei attacks at this time, the other troops will surely be used to contain him. Liu Bei will personally lead the army through Chencang Road and head straight for Yangping Pass."

"Yangping Pass is Liu Bei's target for this battle."

"If Yangping is lost, Nanzheng will not be safe. If Nanzheng is not needed, Hanzhong will be lost!"

"If Hanzhong is lost, Chengdu will be in danger!"

After calculating Liu Bei's strategy, Cheng Yu clasped his hands and said sternly:

"Therefore, I believe that the focus of our defense must be set at Yangping Pass."

"I request that Your Majesty lead the army in person and march north to Hanzhong, station at Yangping Pass to defend against Liu Bei."

"Although we have few troops, Yangping Pass is the most important pass in the world. One man can hold a thousand men back. With Your Majesty in charge, it must be as strong as a rock." "As long as we can defend Yangping Pass for a few months, when the spring rains fall next year, the roads in Qinling Mountains will become muddy and it will be difficult for the Han army to transport food and grass. Liu Bei will have to return empty-handed."

"As long as Liu Bei's troops retreat, the rest of the Han army will follow suit."

"Only in this way can our Great Qin be saved from danger, Your Majesty!"

Cheng Yu did not mention the fact that Cao Cao did not listen to advice, which was considered to give enough face to Cao Cao, the emperor.

He spoke in a very proud and confident manner, planning a strategy for Cao Cao to defend against the enemy.

Cao Cao frowned and stroked his thin beard, but he was reluctant to express his opinion.

The gentle embrace of these few months had already melted his heroic bones!
Having enjoyed beautiful women and fine wine, he was now unwilling to leave the decadence of Chengdu, cross mountains and rivers to go north to Hanzhong, and suffer the hardship of sleeping in the open air.

Even though his reason told him that the danger of national destruction was imminent, as the emperor he had to pull himself together and lead the army in person.

"Zhongde, in my opinion, you are too scared of Liu Bei."

Zhang Song suddenly spoke, his words revealing his sarcasm towards Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu's face darkened and he glared at Zhang Song:

"Zhang Yongnian, what do you mean by that? Why did I listen to your threatening words?"

Zhang Song sneered, came to the map beside the palace, raised his hand and pointed:
"Although Liu Bei has brought together an army of 400,000 soldiers, it may seem overwhelming, but in reality, it is nothing to worry about."

"First of all, regarding Jingzhou, our Baidi City is a mountain city. It is more dangerous than any other city in the world, not to mention the Three Gorges as a natural barrier."

"Your Majesty only needs one general and more than 10,000 elite soldiers to guard Baidi City. Not to mention that the Han army only has more than 50,000 people, even if there are a million troops, there is nothing to fear."

After saying that, Zhang Song pointed to the north again:
"Let's talk about the enemy troops in Xiegu, Luogu and Ziwugu. The roads in these three valleys are rugged and difficult to travel. Most of the roads need to be built with trestle bridges before we can barely march."

"When our army retreated to Hanzhong, all the plank roads had been burned. If the Han army wants to enter Hanzhong from these three valleys, they will have to rebuild the plank roads along the way, and the march will definitely be slow."

"Your Majesty, you only need to send several thousand soldiers to each of the three valley entrances. The Han army will never be able to fly into Hanzhong even if they have wings."

Then Zhang Song pointed westward again:
"As for the Han army on the Qishan route, although the Qishan Road is relatively flat, the journey is extremely long. We can just give the two counties of Wudu and Yinping along the way to Liu Bei."

"After the Han army captures Wudu and Yinping, they will eventually have to join up with the main force of Chencang Road led by Liu Bei. Only after they capture Yangping Pass can they enter the Hanzhong Plain."

"So even though the Han army is divided into five routes, the only real threat is the one attacking Yangping Pass."

"It is no exaggeration to say that Yangping Pass is the most dangerous pass in the world. Your Majesty also said it himself that if it were not for Yang Song's help, even if Your Majesty had a million troops, it would be impossible for you to capture Yangping Pass and take over Hanzhong County."

"Therefore, I think that Your Majesty does not need to lead the army to Hanzhong in person. You only need to order the General of the Cavalry to lead tens of thousands of elite troops and personally guard Yangping Pass and not go out."

"As long as General Miaocai holds on to Yangping Pass and does not come out, Liu Bei will be helpless even with his hundreds of thousands of troops, and will not be able to shake the pass in the slightest!"

"General Miaocai only needs to hold out for a few months. When spring comes and the weather gets warmer, the rains will fall and the mountain roads will become muddy. It will be difficult for the Han army to transport food and grass, so they will naturally retreat without a fight!"

"Once Liu Bei's main force retreats, the rest of the Han army will naturally retreat without success."

"If this is the case, then our Great Qin will be able to turn danger into safety."

Zhang Song spoke eloquently, gave advice on the state of affairs, and planned a strategy for Cao Cao to defend against the enemy.

The key point is that Cao Cao does not need to lead the army in person, he only needs to order Xiahou Yuan to guard Yangping Pass and wait for Liu Bei's 400,000 troops to retreat.

This strategy naturally played into Cao Cao's hands.

Cao Cao's expression turned from gloomy to cheerful, and he laughed loudly, clapping his hands on the table:

"Okay, okay, the strategy Yongnian proposed is the best one."

"Follow Yongnian's plan and quickly order Xiahou Miao to go to Yangping Pass to defend against the big-eared thieves!"

"I will be stationed in Chengdu. If the war goes against me, I will lead the army to reinforce us!" (End of this chapter)